CyberCoyote - June, 2006

NOTES and NOTICES

The address for our website might be changing. :)
http://leapfish.com/analyze.php?url=cybercoyote.org

Your refund is in the mail.
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060526-6928.html

TIPS and TOPICS

Update: "How to dispose of unwanted tech equipment without hassles, and where to find great new environmentally friendly gear." http://cybercoyote.org/url/185.html

Give your laptop legs (or feet).
http://www.laptopdesk.net/access-legsf.php?source=unknown

"You use the Internet to research computers, televisions and other goods. So why not use it to research things that really matter? The Yellow Pages can't tell you if a doctor is good or a lawyer is worth a high fee. But a number of websites do."
http://cybercoyote.org/url/184.html

It's a little late for spring cleaning, but Microsoft has good tips on tidying up your computer.
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/manageinfo/computerclean.mspx -- organize your computer
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/manageinfo/files.mspx -- manage your files

WAITING for WINDOWS (Vista)

Vista is very nice, but there are few "compelling reasons" to upgrade right away. Windows XP is simply good enough in most cases. However, you'll want to look ahead before you buy a new computer of any kind. One compelling reason --
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_ff_uac.asp

"...Microsoft's handling of Windows Vista has been abysmal. Promises have been made and dismissed, again and again. Features have come and gone. Heck, the entire project was literally restarted from scratch after it became obvious that the initial code base was a teetering, technological house of cards. Windows Vista, in other words, has been an utter disaster. And it's not even out yet. What went wrong?"
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winvista_5308_05.asp

"If you have a PC with a 1 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 128MB DirectX 9.0-compliant video card... you'd be insane to install Windows Vista (in our not-so-humble opinions.)" http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060518-6863.html

Most likely you're not reading many "blogs" yet -- at least not knowingly. :) Even if you do, I'd be surprised if you read the most audacious blog that I know of. Scoble's (works at Microsoft) frank blogging is the most positive thing for Microsoft since the antitrust conviction. (The sample relates to Vista.)
http://cybercoyote.org/url/187.html -- Scobleizer sample
http://chris.pirillo.com/2006/05/24/windows-vista-feedback/ -- Vista feedback
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog -- blog basics

Steve Bass's Tips & Tweaks - Microsoft's Vista Upgrade Advisor:
"Oh, the pain. Microsoft released a program -- the Vista Upgrade Advisor -- to help you determine how well your PC matches up with Vista's requirements. I didn't fare too well."
http://blogs.pcworld.com/tipsandtweaks/archives/002096.html
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/capable.mspx -- "Vista Ready"

SECURITY

Ten e-card sites to stay away from on Fathers Day (or any other day, for that matter). Plus a few that are OK.
http://cybercoyote.org/url/179.html

Scammers keep *improving* their phishing lures. The latest cast shows up as an email telling you there is a problem with your bank account, and asks you to call a number to straighten it out. The number connects to an automated phone system that directs you to enter your personal information. It all seems so normal that it's very successful. [VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol, an alternative to standard phone systems.]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20060428/tc_nf/43038

DIVERSION

"The sixteenth century may have been an exciting time in history, but it certainly wasn't a pleasant place to live for ordinary people like us. Here's what it was like to live in the 1500's."
http://www.worsleyschool.net/socialarts/fifteen/hundreds.html

Imagine Spokane under 300 feet of water moving at 70 miles per hour. Of course, Spokane itself wasn't here, but a few ill-fated people may have been.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/megaflood/

I used to walk three miles to school -- in the snow. ;)
http://cybercoyote.org/url/186.html

Unbelievable! A skateboarding dog. [best with broadband]
http://cybercoyote.org/url/181.html

Prodigy! [best with broadband]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciulwRlYKCw